Harrison Center excels at helping unique students succeed

The start of a new year always emphasizes the possibility of a fresh start. Many of us need that opportunity to hit the reset button on areas of our life where we feel we have the potential to improve. In a strong economy, trends point towards people putting their education on the back burner because jobs are more available. However, delaying education opportunities is never a good choice, because any investment you make in your education — today — is promising yourself more possibility for tomorrow and the long term future.

For many people, delaying their education doesn’t necessarily mean a college degree. It could be a high school diploma or GED that they need to improve their competitiveness for jobs. At Port Huron Schools, our district offers this opportunity to people both online through the county’s LearnON web-based learning platform and through the Harrison Center on 15th Street. Both avenues offer people flexible time and customized opportunity for individuals to pursue their high school degree, earning a Port Huron Schools diploma. These two education routes are the epitome of our district’s commitment to “Personalized Success for All.” We take this dedication to unique education plans and needs seriously, and Harrison Center in particular excels in accommodating unique situations and supporting personal goals for its students.

Recently, one of our current students at Harrison approached our district’s construction contractor to seek work on our bond project at the Early Childhood Center. The student did not have a high school diploma and was therefore not qualified for the job requirements. Harrison Center enrolled him in a diploma track and created a work program for him so that he can simultaneously earn a living at a construction job and earn his degree.

One of the biggest highlights of our district’s annual events — and truly one of my personal favorites to attend each year — is the Harrison Center graduation ceremony in June. The students are the speakers and reveal many of their inspiring stories of success and the hard work through which they persevered to achieve their personal goals. It’s an incredibly touching evening that makes a great impact on me and all who are in attendance each year. The 2017 graduation keynote speaker at Harrison Center was a woman who I will remember for a long time. She told the audience how she had recently lost a child, and although the grief was unbearable and her life was changed forever, she decided to double her efforts in her education. Her goal was to get her high school diploma and she was enrolled at the Harrison Center. Her son was also enrolled at the Harrison Center and they graduated together! Together mother and son supported each other — emotionally and academically — and I can assure you, we were all beaming with pride when she told her story of success. She had made it and motivated her son to do the same.

Harrison Center is a unique place to learn. Its student body consists of high school students ages 16 and older, as well as adults. It offers both day and evening classes. It offers a wide variety of online programming. It offers many of the facets of what makes education successful for today’s learning: scheduling flexibility, hands on learning and expert educators who provide customized support.

If your New Year’s resolution is to achieve your high school degree in 2018 or continue the path you may have already started, Harrison Center has options that can work for you. To learn more about the programming Harrison Center offers and its current enrollment opportunities, please call (810) 455-0029 or visit www.phasd.us. Please refer someone you know who might be working towards this goal to Harrison Center if they have questions. We want everyone in our community to realize their best potential and reach their sought after goals and dreams.

I am enthusiastic about the possibilities that 2018 holds at Port Huron Schools for all of its students and staff. I especially look forward to those whose stories I will hear at the Harrison Center graduation once again in June.

James Cain is superintendent of Port Huron Schools. Contact him at superintendent@phasd.us or on Twitter @SuperJCain.

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